Despite being one of the most historically and culturally significant cities of Japan, Nara is most famous for one thing in particular: deer. The city is overrun by over a thousand of these creatures revered in the Shinto religion as sacred beings. For centuries, the Nara deer have coexisted with the town’s inhabitants, and now, the multitude of travelers coming from far and wide to take their picture-perfect selfies with them.

Nara dates back to the early 8th century, staking its claim as the first permanent capital of Japan. History oozes through every street of Nara. Many temples and monuments from its storied past still stand today, in varying states of repair, but magnificent nonetheless. There is much to see and experience in Nara, but tourists mainly flock to Nara to gawk at and frolic amongst its herds of four-legged creatures. The experience typically comes in the form of giving them cookies and then fleeing in terror as a dozen more of them surround you in search of their own treats.

I visited Nara as a day trip from Kyoto and boy, was it full of surprises, both good and bad. Here’s everything you need to know before visiting the “friendly” bowing deer of Nara.

---

---

How To Get to Nara

Nara is the capital of the Nara Prefecture on the island of Honshu. Its central location makes it a popular destination on any Japan travel itinerary as it is easily accessible by train from either Kyoto or Osaka. Regardless of where you are coming from, this is the train station in Nara that you’ll want to end up in.

While some people will recommend different apps for navigating Japan, I found Google Maps to be perfectly reliable and easy to use for public transportation in Japan’s major cities. Just type that station in as the final destination and the directions should give you varying options, from cheapest to fastest. The Kintetsu line is the fastest way as it only takes 35 minutes. The one-way ticket costs 1,110 yen but it isn’t covered by the JR Pass. If you have the JR Pass, the JR Nara line takes 45 minutes by express train or 70 minutes if you catch a local train from Kyoto Station.

If you’re coming from elsewhere in Japan besides Kyoto, check here to see the fastest or cheapest way to get to Nara. It can easily be done as a day trip and the roundtrip ticket doesn’t cost too much. However, some people might be interested in taking it a bit slower and immersing themselves in Nara’s history and furry creatures. Luckily, there are plenty of accommodation options in town.

Before setting off for your epic Japan adventure, make sure to have a plan to stay connected. I use Saily eSIM to keep me online during my travels, ensuring that I have internet from the moment I land to the moment I leave. Navigating public transportation directions, coordinating plans with new hostel friends, and so on – having an eSIM makes life that much easier when you’re on the road. Data packages for Japan start at just $3, and you can use my code “eli5” for an additional 5% off of your first Saily eSIM.

Where To Stay in Nara

While I think a day trip is enough to see Nara, it does have plenty of hotels and hostels for those who can’t get enough of its deer and many palaces and temples. Hostels in Japan are among my favorite as even the dorm rooms often feel like you have your own little private space. Most have privacy curtains, personal lockers, and as far as hostel beds go, some of the most consistently comfortable that I’ve slept on.

Among the highly-rated hostels of Nara are Yuzan Guesthouse, Guesthouse Kamunabi, and The Deer Park Inn. The first two are in the city center while staying The Deer Park Inn will put you in the heart of Nara Park. Although it is further away from the train station, you’ll be right next to many of the shrines, castles, and temples, along with the deer of course.

Here is a full list of hostels in Nara.

Where to Find the Deer in Nara

From the Nara train station, one does not have to walk far at all before their first deer encounter. Prior to my misadventures in Nara, I was envisioning one big park where the deer were enclosed, with a proper entrance where we could just go and visit them. Nope. The entire city is a playground for the deer mafia that control the city. You’ll stumble into them before too long, I promise. Within a few blocks of the train station, you will already have likely seen a dozen deer crossing the roads, plopped outside the 7-Elevens, or chasing down hapless tourists for food. Don’t worry, there will be much, much more to see.

Start making your way towards Nara Park and the deer will multiply in number. There are plenty of wide open spaces, forests, and gardens where the deer roam freely. I found these areas to be much less chaotic and the deer to be more calm. Believe it or not, a bustling Japanese urban area where the roads are shared by cars, motorbikes, busy locals, panicked tourists, and relentless deer can be an overwhelming experience! Find yourself a nice, quiet area in the forests and gardens for more enjoyable time. Be sure to buy some shika senbei (deer crackers) before going deeper into the park if you plan on feeding the deer. You’ll find vendors selling them for about 200 yen for a packet of 10-15 crackers.

The Bowing Deer of Nara: Expectations vs. Reality

This whole adventure seemed like a cute and harmless day out. I mean, you’re just going to play with some deer and feed them cookies, right? Wrong! I wouldn’t even call what’s happening “feeding the deer”. More aptly, they are simply snatching the food from your hands. They are bloodthirsty, I tell ya. If you are even the slightest bit too slow with giving them their mouthwatering treats, they will not hesitate to bite you.

The deer are most famous for bowing, which they often do knowing that it will lead to them getting treats. Most of them will get up close to you and repeatedly bow if they know you have food. Don’t be fooled into thinking they are polite creatures because they can be vicious once they notice you have their beloved cookies. They will bow and then get impatient and snap at you if you don’t give them a treat right away. Deer have a keen sense of smell, so even hiding the treats might still attract hordes of them to you. The worst thing you can do is carry the crackers visibly in your hands, as deer from far and wide will come flocking to you. It’s not quite the fairy-tale experience that you’d imagine.

Although the deer are used to tourists, they are still wild animals. You might run into male deer getting territorial and fighting with other male deer. I saw two of them getting tangled up in a gazebo in the middle of a small park. I did end up getting bit a few times, but I don’t even want to know the pain of one of those deer attacking me with their antlers is like. After the first half hour or so, I did my best to simply avoid the deer altogether, which is not easy.

Other Things To See and Do in Nara

Thankfully, there is much to do in Nara that doesn’t involve deer. I went with a friend, and though he was happy to play with deer the entire day, I was kind of over them pretty quickly. They stopped being cute after the fifth or sixth time I was bitten or cornered against a wall or tree. Luckily, there were plenty of things in Nara to do that we just stumbled into. Despite having done no research about Nara, I absolutely loved it. Here are some of my favorite highlights from my visit to Nara.

Todai-Ji Temple

Todai-Ji Temple dates back to 752 and is the most iconic of Nara’s historic landmarks. It houses a massive bronze Buddha statue, Daibutsu, which is one of the largest in the world. The temple complex itself is impressive and surrounded by beautiful gardens. There was an entrance fee of 600 yen to get in and see the Buddha, but I just took in the views of the castle from the outside.

Kasuga Taisha

Known for its lantern-lined paths, Kasuga Taisha is a Shinto shrine that dates back to the 8th century. The shrine is famous for its bronze lanterns, which are lit twice a year during the Lantern Festival. The setting inside one of the forests made for very Studio Ghibli vibes. There are a few deer roaming around the shrine and the forests, adding to the magic of this beautiful shrine.

Nara National Museum

Walking from the train station to Nara Park, you’ll likely stumble upon Nara National Museum, which houses a vast collection of Buddhist art and artifacts from centuries past. The museum provides insights into the cultural, religious, and artistic history of the region. If you’ve got an hour or two to kill, this museum is definitely worth the $5 entrance fee.

Naramachi

Naramachi is the historic merchant district of Nara, where traditional machiya (wooden townhouses) line the narrow streets. Some machiya have been converted into boutique shops, quaint cafes, and small museums. This neighborhood is perfect for an aimless wanderer.

All in all, Nara is much more than just the bowing deer. I didn’t have too many expectations for the city, expecting to just see some deer and go back to Kyoto. However, I was truly in awe of some of the cultural monuments, intricate shrines, and historical sites of Nara. The combination of historical significance, abundance of natural beauty, and unique cultural experiences make Nara a compelling destination for any traveler interested in exploring Japan’s ancient heritage. And of course, cute deer.

Buy Me A Beer!

If this post helped you out, show some love and support for the blog and help keep my adventures going by buying me a beer! My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated, and allows me to keep writing helpful travel guides and creating travel content to help you all travel the world on a budget.

More on East Asia

• Travel Guide to Nikko, Japan
• Travel Guide to Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji
• The Backpacker’s Travel Guide to Seoul, South Korea
• The Ultimate Guide to Hongdae Nightlife, Seoul